Category: DeMumbrie/Demonbreun Family

I had found some interesting documents pertaining to Spencer DeMumbrie, but it is going to take a bit to transcribe them.  So I decided to share this newspaper article that mentions his river landing!  It appeared on page three of the November 26, 1868 edition of the Memphis Daily Avalanche.  All typos are left intact in the transcription.

A MYSTERY UNBOTTLED.

Letter to the Avalanche Found Floating in a Bottle on the Mississippi.

A Memphian Corks up His Sorrows and Prepares to Leave the World.

On the 16th of November a bottle, well corked, was found floating down the Mississippi river at Demumbrie Landing, about one hundred and fifty miles below Memphis.  The bottle contained a note written on a smooth bristol board card and signed J. S. Jones, whoever that is or was.  The tenor of the note is that he was about to throw himself overboard and trust to the hospitality of catfish and mud-turtles.  Whether he carried his intention out and now sleeps in a watery grave

“With scarce a shred to tell of human form,

Or fragment for the seabird or the worm.”

or reconsidered the motion he made to jump over, or laid it on the table, is purely conjectural.  At the time of writing the note its author must have had a steady hand, for the chirography is smoothe and business-like.  If we could call spirits from the vasty deep we would ask them if any such man as Jones found his way to the locker on the 12th of October; as it is, we do not know any one named J. S. Jones who ever lived in Memphis.  One presumption is that somebody bottled up the card and cast it upon the waters as a practical joke, to see if it would come back after many days in the newspapers.  Another presumption is that some man, temporarily disgusted with life, wrote the note and threw it overboard from some boat, but failed to follow the bottle any further than the guards.  Possibly he had followed the bottle to much before that time to feel like trusting himself all alone in so much water.  Here is the note, verbatim:

October 12 1868

Good bye.  Should this ever be picked up the finder will confer a great favor by allowing it to be published, so as my friends may know what as become of the poor, miserable creature that I am.  Send it to the Memphis AVALANCHE, as that is my dear home, and all that are near and dear to me live there.  The cause of this rash act will never be known.  I often wish I had gone with our lost cause, which I done my all to sustain.  Now for the deep waters of the Mississippi.

J. S. Jones

When we read the concluding sentence we almost hear a heavy splash in the water, and see a struggling form which repents of rashness, alas, too late, go down, and see the waves close over him in the distance and forever.  If such a person ever lived in Memphis, his friends can see the card just as it was taken from the bottle by a citizen of Demumbrie’s Landing, Mississippi, by calling at the AVALANCHE office.  The card was slightly damaged by the water, but the writing is as plain as when first traced.

I have a sneaking suspicion that this was made up by the newspaper to sell more copies.  No doubt a bottled note was probably found at DeMumbrie’s Landing, however…I bet the newspaper wrote it, bottled it, and cast it in the water, just waiting to see it return so they could then write about it.

I have gotten a little closer in my search for the date and location of Spencer DeMumbrie’s death.  I am almost positively positive that he most definitely died in Austin, Tunica County, Mississippi.  Probably on his plantation.  As for the date…well, he definitely died sometime between September 1874 and September 1876.  How have I pinpointed this?  Why, with Tunica County tax records, of course!

In 1874 Spencer appears on the tax rolls for the last time alive (well, I can’t see the 1875 tax rolls for Tunica County, so he may have been alive on that one, too).  He claimed:

5 cattle valued at $75

3 horses valued at $200

2 mules valued at $200

10 swine valued at $20

2 carriages valued at $30

1 watch valued at $40

Personal property valued at $100

In 1876 the tax list shows the Estate of Spencer DeMumbrie, meaning that he had passed…probably recently.  The Estate claimed:

17 cattle valued at $145

5 horses valued at $250

2 carriages valued at $20

In 1877 Effee Jane Gilchrist, Spencer’s 3rd and last wife, claimed:

3 cattle valued at $45

6 horses valued at $240

3 swine valued at $15

1 carriage valued at $10

1 watch valued at $20

Personal Property valued at $330

She also stated that she lived at DeMumbrie’s the prior year and the current year.  By this she more than likely meant DeMumbrie’s Landing on the Mississippi River.

The last tax record I can find concerning Spencer and Effee is 1879.  That year Effee claimed:

4 horses valued at $60

4 horses valued at $200

Personal property valued at $260

After that there are no tax records listed until 1882.  Effee Jane isn’t on that tax list, nor does she appear on the 1880 census.  So, the search continues…

This is most definitely not the last I will write of Timothy Demonbreun on Digging Up Your Family, but for now I can safely write of his passing, as I have more or less shared some interesting and important moments and events from his life.  There is more, trust me.  That leaves it wide open for future posts for me to contemplate.

Timothy Demonbreun passed at the age of 79 years on Monday, October 30, 1826 at his home in Nashville.  His obituary appeared in the Nashville Whig and Banner on November 4, 1826.  I have searched around, but I can’t find a scan of the actual obituary, so I can only go by what others have reported.  According to The Agnew Family Genealogy:

"In this town on Monday evening last, Captain Timothy Boucher DeMontbrun (Demumbrane), a venerable citizen of Nashville and the first white man that ever imigrated to this vicinity". The paper continues that "Demumbrane was interred at the little cemetery north of the public square, on a knoll near the sulphur springs where the first settlers had followed herds of buffalo".

The Timothy Demonbreun Heritage Society doesn’t mention this second part of the obituary.  I look forward to viewing the microfilm for this issue of the paper someday.  I was able to find him mentioned in the December 19, 1826 edition of the Spectator (New York, New York):

At Nashville, Capt. Timothy Demumbrane, at an advanced age.

It is said that he died with perfect teeth, so that’s pretty interesting.  As for his burial, that’s even more interesting.  The truth of the matter is…well, no one knows where Timothy is buried!  I know, I know, above the Nashville Whig and Banner apparently reported that he was buried in the Old City Cemetery.  There are reports that he may be buried behind John Geist & Sons, a blacksmith shop, at 311 Jefferson Street in Nashville (which I just noticed is listed as an “endangered property” in Nashville).  Other reports are that his body was moved from the Old City Cemetery to the New City Cemetery.  But the best, and most “romantic” report (more family legend than report) is that Elizabeth, his secret second common-law wife that he married off to a friend of his, became so distraught and lonely that her son Jean Baptiste had Timothy’s body disinterred from the city cemetery (old or new, I don’t know) and had it moved to Elizabeth’s land in Marrowbone, Cheatham County, Tennessee, the land now in part the Carney Cemetery.  Elizabeth is buried here, as is her son Jean Baptiste.  And even though no one is sure if Timothy really is buried in Carney, descendants later set a headstone in place.  Inscribed on his headstone is:

JACQUÉS TIMOTHE

BOUCHER

SIEURE De MONTBRUN

(TIMOTHY DEMONBREUN)

1747 – 1826

FRENCH CANADIAN FUR

TRADER OF FRENCH LICK

OFFICER OF THE

AMERICAN REVOLUTION

GOVERNOR IN COMMAND OF

THE ILLINOIS COUNTRY

EARLY RESIDENT AND

MERCHANT OF NASHVILLE

ET QUOY PLUS (meaning “and much more”)

Something else interesting is Timothy’s will.  I can see an actual copy of it, but since I haven’t received permission from the original poster, I can only transcribe it:

Timothy Demonbrun Dec.d Will

Recorded March 19, 1827

The many days of my existence and my bodily infirmities warn me that I have not long to live in anticipation of my departure I leave the following as my Last will and Testament – In the first place – I appoint  my friend Joseph T. Elliston Esq. of Davidson County my executor herein expressly declaring that he is not to be required to give security for the performance of the trust reposed in him by this will – Should Mr. Elliston refuse to Qualify or die before Qualifying or die after Qualifying in either event it is my will and desire that an adminstrat…(page torn away)…reed appointed by the proper tribunals of the country be he who may shall have and possess all…(page torn away)…ting my will that Mr. Elliston can have by Qualifying – It being my great object to leave some per…(page torn away)…authorized to carry my intent into full and complete execution by selling and conveying real estate – As soon as convenient after my death I will and desire that my executor proceed to sell at private or public sale as to him may seem best the part of the Lot No. 45 in the Town of Nashville on which I now live on a credit of one, two and three years with the interest from the date, taking prudent care to secure the purchase money by mortgage or good personal security  In like manner I wish him to dispose of all my personal estate of any description whatever on such reasonable credits as in his opinion enhance the sale to the best advantage – I give and bequeath to my daughter Agnes Doza and such child or children she may have living at the time of my death by Mr. Doza in equal shares, the mother and the children, the sum of five hundred dollars, hereby directing my executor to pay this legacy into the hands of the mother Mrs. Doza, which shall forever aquit him against any claim of the children who may have an interest in this devise.  I give and bequeath to my daughter Julia Johnson one thousand dollars in cash and hereby declare that the receipt of Mrs. Johnson single or married for the legacy shall aquit my executor forever against the demand of every other person whatever  I also give and bequeath to my said daughter Mrs. Julia Johnson two hundred and ninety acres of Land part of the had on which my son Timothy Demonbrun now lives in Davidson County to be laid off and allotted to her by my executor having due regard to Quality by in such way as not to interfere with the plantation of my son Timothy in any way  To have and to hold her her heirs and assigns forever – I give and bequeath to the three oldest sons of my daughter Julia Johnson now living to each of them the sum of one hundred dollars to be paid by my executor into the hands of the mother or any guardian properly appointed unless they be of age for their use – if they become of age before the legacy is paid, let it be of course paid to them.  I give and bequeath to my son Timothy Demumbrun the sum of one thousand dollars in cash.  I also will and devise to my said son Timothy his heirs and assigns forever two hundred and ninety three acres of Land in Davidson County including the farm and plantation on which he now lives – I give and bequeath to my illegitimate son John Batteaste Demumbrun the sum of five hundred dollars – I also will and devise to him said John B. the one third part of a tract of 440 acres of Land for which I have a deed from Capt Joshua Hadley – I bequeath unto my illegitimate daughter late Polly Demumbrun now married to (left blank) the sum of five hundred dollars and also the one third part of of said tract of 440 acres of Land conveyed to me by Capt Joshua Hadley – I will and desire to my illegitimate son William Demumbrun five hundred dollars and the remaining third of said 440 acres of Land deeded to me by Capt Hadley – I give and bequeath to my two sisters Catherine Demumbrun and Polly Demumbrun five hundred dollars each these two sisters if alive reside in the city or neighborhood of Montreal in Canada to which place I wish my executor to
address them notifying them of their interest in my estate – If they or either of them do not in some legal way apply for her or their legacies within the space of three years from my death I then will and bequeath that all their right to the legacies do cease and that her or their legacies be divided in equal proportions among all the legatees named in this will share and share alike – All the rest and residue of my estate if any should remain after paying the aforesaid legacies I wish and devise to be equally divided among all my before mentioned legatees share & share alike – If my estate shall not be sufficient in the end to pay the legacies in full above bequeathed it is my will and desire that each legacy shall abate in equal ratios according to magnitude that is each Legatee shall lose in equal proportions according to the sum divided to him, the larger more – the smaller less – I shall here state what in proper place I should have before directed, to wit, I will and direct that my executor retain for his trouble and services a liberal equivalent out of my estate and if anyone concerned in my estate shall dispute his account being reasonable in that event it is my will and I so declare that if any (it looks like disintered) judge of the highest court Justice in the state shall on inspection declare his charges reasonable and certify the same under his hand.  The same shall become conclusive and binding on all parties and the account shall be paid out of my estate – And as it is my wish to guard as much as possible against accident whe…(page torn away)…nt of this will.  I here again declare…(page torn away)…the course of human events it shall at any time a…(page torn away)…me necessary for any one to qualify as administrator with the will annexed to this my Last will and Testament then and in that went I hereby most fully and amply vest such administrator be he who he may with complete powers to execute this will an very part there as fully amply & completely as if such administrator by name had by me been made executor to this will remarking however that I do not (looks like incompt) such administrator from giving the necessary security required by law.  In the event of my estate falling short whereby the abatement of legacy contemplated in the forgoing part of this will shall take place.  I wish it understood &…(page torn away)…declare that such abatement is only applicable pecuniary legacies and is in no wise to affect the devise of real…(page torn away)…which is by me here declared specific.  In testimony of all which I have hereto set my hand and seal Sept 24th…(page torn away)…igned sealed and published in Our presence. 

Thimote demon Breun (seal)

(page torn away)…y   Nelson Thornton   E.H. Foster

One thing that mystifies people to this day is that his will doesn’t mention Felix Demonbreun at all, though it is generally believed that he is also Timothy’s illegitimate son.  I mentioned Felix briefly in Part Eight, but I can’t really say too much more about him since I haven’t done much research on him.  According to a woman named Sherry on GenForum Timothy deeded land to “Philix (Philis)Theodore Bennett, son of Elizabeth Bennett” which can be found page 188 of the Davidson County, Tennessee Deed Book C.  Since I haven’t actually seen the book I can only go by what she wrote, though it is interesting.  Felix Theodore does show up in Kentucky as Felix Demonbreun, not Bennett.  So I guess it’s still up in the air over whether or not he is Timothy’s son, but the general consensus is that…more than likely?

Something to close this out with that I found on The Agnew Family Genealogy website:

“Jacques Timothe was a unique man. He was a scoundrel, but a patriot. He was a womanizer and was caught stealing from the store of a friend, yet he donated land on which to build the first Catholic Church in Nashville. He entertained the privateer, smuggler, patriot, Jean Laffite in his home after the war of 1812 as a gesture of gratitude. It was during this celebration that "Fort Nashborough" became Nashville; changing the "borough" to "ville" to give the city a French flavor to honor the beloved pirate.”

The author of the website points out that Timothy was not the first white man to set foot in the area, but he is considered the Father of Nashville.  Also, I had never heard the story about Jean Laffite, let alone thought about him in the same context as Timothy Demonbreun, but you can bet I will be looking up more about that pirate!

Happy Timothy Demonbreun Day!

The events of the last decade of the 18th century are a little fuzzy concerning Timothy and his families.  In 1786 Timothy resigned from the military.  By 1790 he moved permanently to Nashville.  He still had his wife Therese in Kaskaskia, Illinois and his common law wife Elizabeth in Nashville.

From what I understand, and this is family lore mixed with a bit of fact that I can actually find sources for, is that after Timothy moved to Nashville for good and had a really good trading post/tavern/actual house (the house was situated, from what I understand, at the corner of what is now Third Avenue and Broadway in Nashville, Tennessee) set up, he then moved his Kaskaskia family to Nashville.  I can’t say if this is true or not because no one knows exactly when or where Therese died.  Different accounts say she died in Boucherville, Kaskaskia, or Nashville.  Different accounts say she died anywhere from 1790 to 1800.  One family tale that has been passed down for generations is that soon after Therese moved to Nashville she was out riding her horse with little Marie Louise and she was attacked by the Native Americans, with little Marie Louise being torn from her arms and murdered and scalped in front of her, but Therese left unharmed.  Another story is that she, too, was (again) kidnapped by these natives, but (once again) escaped.  Either way, except for her birth there is no mention of Marie Louise ever again.  I find the number of accusations made against different tribes of kidnapping and murder concerning Therese and her children (especially when some children have gone missing) suspect. 

Anyway, I don’t know if Therese ever actually moved to Nashville.  However, I can only imagine the awkwardness that must have occurred with the situation between Therese and Elizabeth.  Apparently some agreement was struck with Elizabeth, because on March 12, 1793 Elizabeth married Timothy’s French/Cherokee friend Joseph Desaque (as it appears on the marriage record itself…though later it will change to all sorts of possibilities, including: DuRat, Durard, Gerard, Durrat…oh, it goes on and on).  Oh, even though this post isn’t about Elizabeth, I have to mention this just because it’s funny:  Elizabeth gave birth to Joseph Desaque’s son Joseph Dougherty Durard in 1791, a year prior to giving birth to Timothy’s daughter Mary Polly Demonbreun.  Yup.

So, anyway, I had mentioned before about the possibility of MORE common law wives for Timothy.  Betsy Phillips (author of the blogs Tiny Cat Pants and Pith in the Wind-Nashville Scene, also author of A City of Ghosts, which is a totally fantastic book) in an article for Pith in the Wind describes her discovery of some information contained in the William Alexander Provine Papers (1552-1935, held at the Tennessee State Library and Archives).  According to Mr. Provine (and I totally can’t wait to get up to TSLA to see these for myself!):

“Timothy Demonbreun lived with three women as “common-law wives” –his legitimate wife was Agnes Gibeau (close enough, I guess?), the other women were:

1. Elizabeth Himslar

Timothy Demonbreun also lived with a woman by the name of Crutcher, by whom he had no children.

Timothy Demonbreun also lived with Martha (Patsy) Gray, (who was an aunt of Wm Bennett), by whom he had two children – a boy and a girl.  They were quite small when Bennett visited them & does not know what became of them, he thinks this woman was from Georgia.”

I wonder how much of that is true?  And yes, what did ever happen to these other wives and the children?

So back in the post a Kind Heart and a Cave I mentioned Timothy’s cave home.  Let’s go into a bit more detail about his cave, then we will continue on about his whereabouts and his family…er, families.

There doesn’t seem to be any definite known time when Timothy moved into his luxurious cave, complete with a “kitchen”.  I saw one website that said he just took refuge there during an attack by the natives.  I have seen this repeated a few times, but I can’t find anywhere in the history and genealogy books that this is mentioned.  Some say it wasn’t until the 1780s that he moved in, some say it was when he first “discovered” the area.  One person wrote that he only lived in the cave during his first year after settling in the area.  I would like to think that it was when he first came across the area, only because I don’t know where else he would have stayed during the first winters in the 1700s.  The cave is registered at a private residence roughly 2.5 miles or so from the Cumberland River and the cave itself.  It has two entrances:  one on the river and one on the bluff above.  When entering through the river entrance, he would apparently pull up, tie his boat up and climb a ladder, which he would then pull up into the cave.  My guess is that it must have been pretty cozy, especially with all of the furs he dealt with.

Now, I have seen mention that he built a hut to store his furs, tallows and trinkets.  However, I don’t think it was until about 1790 that he built an actual house in Nashville.

Throughout the 1770s the only way to tell where Timothy was came from his correspondences.  Starting in the 1780s, though, we could track him based on court records, correspondence AND the birth of his children.  How, you may ask, can you tell from the birth of his children?  Well, at some point Timothy had another wife.  Say what!?  Yeah, for those that are descended from Timothy or have been researching him already, this comes as no shock.  It might come as a surprise that he may have had more than two wives at the same time, but right now we are only going to focus on his second wife-who-wasn’t-really-a-wife-but-actually-a-common-law-wife.

I would really love to know exactly where and how Timothy met Elizabeth.  Or what her real name REALLY was.  I’m thinking it was not Elizabeth.  Elizabeth was said to be Choctaw, though I question this (for reasons that will be discussed in a future post about her!).  I saw that a man who recently passed wrote that he had records of her having been married before and having children with her husband, then travelling to Tennessee with Timothy and having children with him.  However, I cannot find any marriage record at all for her prior to Tennessee.  A woman asked this man for references for his information, and he was unable to provide them.  And where did these other children go, anyway?  This is not about her, though.  This is about Timothy and his whereabouts.

Now, if you read through the Kaskaskia Records, 1778-1790, Trustees of the Illinois State Historical Library, 1909 you will see tons of letters and court meetings signed by Timothy.  We don’t necessarily need those to track his whereabouts, though.  Let’s look at his children:

William Demonbreun (mother: Elizabeth) born 1783 (month and day unknown) in Nashville, Tennessee.  This year is according to the Timothy Demonbreun Heritage Society.  His tombstone has about ten years later and court records have about three years later.  I’m going to go by what the Timothy Demonbreun experts say.

Julienne (Julia) Demonbreun (mother: Therese) born March 12, 1785 in Kaskaskia, Illinois.

Jean Baptiste Demonbreun (mother: Elizabeth) born January 24, 1788 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Jacques Timothy Demonbreun (mother: Therese) born April 7, 1788 in Kaskaskia, Illinois.  (see below for more information about the first born son Timothy Felix).

Marie Louise Demonbreun (mother: Therese) born February 28, 1789 in Kaskaskia, Illinois.

Mary Polly Demonbreun (mother: Elizabeth) born 1792 (month and day unknown) in Nashville, Tennessee.

Now, the only reason we even know that the children with Elizabeth are Timothy’s is because he mentions his illegitimate children by name in his will.  There is still a mystery child Felix Theodore Demonbreun, however. 

I may have to back up for a second.  I wrote in the post Kaskaskia to French Lick that Timothy and Therese’s second child born in 1770 was Timothy Felix Demonbreun.  Well, it appears that there is some controversy surrounding this child.  I have seen that there is nothing that says his name ever contained the middle name Felix.  He did exist and there is a baptism record for him.  I just scanned through Timothy’s will again and there is nothing about this first son Timothy, but there is mention of Jacque Timothy, the second son with Therese.  I suppose his first son died.  I will get more into mystery child Felix Theodore at a later date, though.

Back to William Demonbreun.  Judging by a few family trees, there are some people out there who still can’t accept that William is not Therese’s child.  William is considered the first “white” child born in Nashville.  He was born in the cave overlooking the Cumberland River to Elizabeth.  Timothy’s will states “I will and (desire) unto my illegitimate son William Demumbran now married to      The sum of five hundred dollars and the remaining third of said 440 acres of Land deeded to me by Capt Hadley…”  I’m fairly certain that says right there that he isn’t Therese’s son.

While we are on the subject of common law wives…well, perhaps tomorrow.

Oh, where did I leave off?  Oh yes, the cave.  And the missing wife.  Well, we will talk about the cave next time.  This time…

So, as previously mentioned, Therese has gone missing after the birth of son Timothe Felix.  Whether she was missing or not I can’t be sure of.  All that is known is that she appears on no records.  I assume if she did actually go missing that her children would have been living with family in Kaskaskia while Timothy was out floating (and rowing) up and down the Mississippi and Cumberland rivers, huntin’ and fishin’ and fur-tradin’.  If she didn’t disappear then I guess we don’t have to wonder about the children.  They would have been with her in Kaskaskia, doing whatever privileged kids back in those days did (which I imagine to be girls learning needlepoint and playing with porcelain dolls, boys playing war with their tin soldiers…).

In 1775 war was declared against Britain.  According to Mrs. Whiteford, Timothy “established the first permanent camp in middle Tennessee.”  However, he had returned to Vincennes by April of 1777.  I haven’t found the letter online anywhere (I supposed I will actually have to order the microfilm reel to see it), but Mrs. Whiteford states that April 26, 1777 Timothy sent a letter to Boucherville with a postmark of Vincennes, Indiana.  It was at this time that Timothy met with the British Lieutenant Governor Edward Abbott who had arrived at Vincennes on April 19, 1777 (source).  Timothy became Abbott’s confidential messenger, though not for long.

Mrs. Whiteford writes:

“Timothe DeMonbreun did not remain long in the British forces, for in Draper MSS36J5 Timothe DeMonbreun makes a statement that he was with Colonel Clark on his expedition in the Illinois country.  It is doubtful if he was present to help Clark retake Kaskaskia, on the night of July 4, 1778.  The next day all Kaskaskia rallied to the American cause and took oath of allegiance to Virginia of America, from Father Pierre Gibault, their parish priest.” 

My head is spinning looking at all of the information dealing with the retaking of Kaskaskia (Fort Sackville at the time).  Since we aren’t focused on the squirmishes of the Revolutionary War itself, I won’t feel too bad about not going into detail.   However, I will make note that the Colonel Clark referred to is Colonel George Rogers Clark.

By now Timothy has been made Lieutenant.  In a letter written by Colonel John Montgomery (“founder” of Clarksville, Montgomery County, Tennessee…see how that worked out?) as a certificate of service (Kaskaskia Records, 1778-1790, Trustees of the Illinois State Historical Library, 1909):

“CERTIFICATE OF SERVICES OF TIMOTHE DE MONBRUEN

October 17, 1780

[Draper MSS., 50J70, – A.D.S]

Fort Clark Octr 17th 1780

TO ALL HOME IT MAY CONSARN

This May Certefy that Lt Mumbron haith Beheved him Self as a Frend to the Cause of America in Evey Respect and that he haith Been Readey at all Times on Eaney immergencey to do Every thing in his Power for the defence of his Cuntrey & at all times When Ever Called on By his Superior or Commanding officer turned out.  When the Savages Came in order to Destroy the Cuntrey Last Spring he turned out With the formost to Repulce them.  When I was ordered to Go on the Expodition up the Wabush he allso Went with the Greatest Chearfullness and when The Savages attacted Fort Gefferson when I Could Git But twelve Men to Go with Me he a Gain Ventered his life to the Releefe of that post.  I Think When all These proofes are Considered that he oute to be aplaused by Every Good Man and Rewarded  Acording to his Merrite.  Geven under My hand

JNO MONTGOMERY

Lt Col Commandant”

So, this is about where everything gets a little crazy…or crazier?  In 1780 Therese suddenly shows back up in the church records as being named a godmother.  She also, along with Timothy, signed a power of attorney for the sale of their land in Vincennes.  I can only assume that they then returned to Kaskaskia to live.  But…

Timothy returned to the Cumberland Valley and went back to trading.  Apparently he also got into some legal issues by selling liquor without a license.  He was traveling between Kaskaskia and Nashville and had no money, as he had served under Clark for at least two years without a single cent of pay.  After requesting pay and resignation, Timothy wrote directly to Colonel Clark on March 5, 1782 (Kaskaskia Records, 1778-1790, Trustees of the Illinois State Historical Library, 1909):

“MY GENERAL:

I had the honour to address myself to Major John William, your representative, ask him that either he grant my discharge or give me, in my quality of gentleman and officer in the service of the Republic of Virginia, which I have the honor to serve, my pay as lieutenant, in good money or merchandise, so that I might be able to maintain my family.  Major Williams was able to grant me nothing but provisions for my subsistence as you will see by the answer herewith enclosed, which I have the honor to send to you.  Therefore, my general, I trust that you will be able to help me, after you will have seen the certificate Colonel Montgomery and the answer of Major Williams concerning my services and their incapacity to recompense me for my services in spite of the good desires these gentlemen had to do so; and when you will have seen the zealous wish I still have to follow you on the expedition which you are going to make, if you are willing, however, to grant me the maintenance for my family so that I can be absent myself without leaving my family to the mercy of my friends, which is a thing of shame to a man of noble birth such as I am.  I hope, my general, that, in depending on the zeal with which I desire to serve my country, I shall find in you all the resources which may be necessary for me, so that I can march with your confidence under your banners, under whose shelter a true soldier wishes for nothing else.

I have the honour to be with a profound respect, my general,

Your very humble and very obedient servant,

TIMOTHE DE MONBREUN, Lieutenant”

Way to pull out the Royalty card, Timothy.

Never fear, it appears that after writing at least one more letter, undated, to Clark that payment was received.

Now, the question we must ask ourselves:  to which family was he referring?

Ah, yes, we haven’t quite gotten there yet, have we?

Timothy’s travels in the 1770s were numerous.  Timothy had his trading business back along the Cumberland River by Fall of 1773.  He was greatly respected by the local Native Americans as an honest and trustworthy person. 

Mrs. Whiteford writes that Timothy did not return to Kaskaskia in the Summer in 1775 but instead rode down the Mississippi River to New Orleans with his fur, hides and tallow for trade, as he usually did in Spring.  This was the same year that the start of the American Revolution was declared.

An interesting story is related for the years of 1776 and 1777, straight from the mouth of Timothy, published in the Atlanta Constitution in 1896, and again in 1939 by Mrs. Whiteford.

By Mrs. Whiteford:

“In the spring of 1776, Timothe DeMonbreun makes his regular trip to New Orleans, Louisiana, with his cargo for exchange, but this turns out to be the one he was always to remember.  When he arrived at Deacon’s Pond, now near where Palmyre stands, he met six men and a woman.  This party had lost one of their men, having been tramped to death by a buffalo.  This was the first white man to die in this part of the country, that we have any record of.  The next fell a victim to the barbarity of his own companions—a man they called Big John or John Duncan, who was afterwards buried where Captain DeMonbreun first saw the party, had his wife, the woman above noticed along with him.  About this time she had become tired of him, took up with James Ferguson, alleging that her husband was a lazy man, and a worthless hunter, that she had to support him, and then had no satisfaction in his company; but Ferguson was an agreeable industrious young man, and the best hunter in the party.  She had left (her) husband sick, and induced the party also to leave him.  They went down the river.

Duncan died of hunger, it is supposed, as his appearance to Captain Demumburen (so spelled) wrought that impression on his mind (Draper MSS26CC35).

It was on his last trip from New Orleans, Louisiana, in February, 1777, that Timothe DeMonbreun found this man’s body and buried it.  This act of unkindness of one man to another made a lasting impression on his mind, for when DeMonbreun was an old man he would tell this story with as much interest as if it had just happened yesterday.”

The article in the Atlanta Constitution (December 13, 1896, page 11) refers to a book titled (ready for this one?) Life as it is, or, Matters and things in general containing, amongst other things, historical sketches of the exploration and first settlement of the state of Tennessee : manners and customs of the inhabitants : their wars with the Indians : battle of King’s mountain : history of the Harps (two noted murderers) : a satirical burlesque on the practice of electioneering : legislative, judicial and ecclesiastical incidents : description of natural curiosities : a collection of anecdotes, &c. published in 1842 by John Will M Breazeale.  Breazeale writes:

“In the year 1776, Thomas Sharp Spencer (who I wrote about in a previous post), and a number of others, came to the country, and built some cabins on the Cumberland river.  The majority of the company, however, soon returned, but Spencer and one Holliday remained in the country till 1779.  In the year 1777, Capt. De Mumbrane, a Frenchman, who commenced hunting in the country as early as 1775, met with a company of six men and one woman, at a place called Deacon’s Pond, not far from where Palmyra is now situated.  The company informed him, that a man by the name of William Bowen, who had came out with them, had been ran over and trampled down by a gang of buffaloes, and had lain in the woods eight days before he was found, and died in consequence of the wounds he received by the buffaloes running over him, the day after he was found.  John Duncan, who the company called Big John, had brought the woman along as his wife, but she had become tired of him, and took up with James Ferguson, another of the company.  Duncan was taken sick, and the woman persuaded the company to leave him, and Duncan died.  Capt. De Mumbrane saw his corpse.—This was, no doubt, the first white woman that ever visited the country now denominated Middle Tennessee.  This company, woman and all, having taken water, sailed on into the Mississippi, halted there for a time, and hunted; but they were finally all killed by the Indians in 1779, except one or two;  whether the woman escaped or not is not known, nor is it very material.  If she lived it was only to disgrace her sex, and if she died society sustained no loss.”

Well, that wasn’t a very nice thing to write!

The 1896 Atlanta Constitution wrote the entire section I just transcribed, along with a few other stories from the book.

Breazeale goes on with a story that was repeated, though without as much detail, as Edward Albright’s 1908 book (Breazeale’s book might be the first published account of the story I transcribed on the Thomas Sharp Spencer post):

“In the fall of the year 1777, Capt. De Mumbrane went to the Wabush country, leaving a man in the Cumberland country, to  keep camp, with directions to join him at the mouth of the Cumberland river the succeeding spring.  But the man, not being apprised that Spencer and Holliday were in the country, and seeing Spencer’s huge tracks, (for he was a man of enormous size,) ran off in a day or two, and left the country, supposing he was in the midst of a nation of giants.”

Now, during this time that Timothy was in the French Lick area, he was living out of a cave.  Though there are several accounts of Timothy building a sheltering hut to live in, and building cabins to store his furs and tallow, that I imagine were also used as a trading posts, it is well  known that he lived in a cave.  The cave, located on a bluff of the Cumberland River, provided a great shelter for Timothy from the elements and from wildlife and possible attacks by the natives (though, honestly, I can’t imagine he was worried so much about the latter).  The cave can still be seen today.  From the opposite side of the river, and even better by boat.

Photo taken by Wayne Hsieh, August 25, 2011, found on Flickr, Some Rights Reserved, (Source)

It’s difficult to see in the photo (if you go to the source of the photo, however, you can see details much better), but there is a gate that was placed over the cave entrance to keep people out.  It is often pulled away to gain entrance anyway.  My mother tells me that, possibly back in the 1970s sometime, some boys entered the cave and became trapped.  This is why a gate is placed over the entrance.  Mrs. Whiteford published four photos of the cave in her book, one of which is a photo of the “kitchen” area.

It was in this cave that the first known white settler was born.

Ok, onward with the life of Timothy Demonbreun.  Like I had said in the previous post about him (Part Four, found here), I am not certain when Timothy and Therese, along with their newborn daughter, finally arrived in the French settlement of Kaskaskia, Illinois Territory.  Since they still had plenty of time prior to winter weather I would like to assume that, as soon as Therese felt well after childbirth, they set out upon the rivers once more and landed safely soon after in Kaskaskia.  Although, looking at a map, I can’t see how they would have gotten to Kaskaskia by boat unless they went southwest on the Wabush River to present day Cairo, Illinois, then northwest on the Mississippi River to Kaskaskia, Illinois (current population as of the 2010 US Census: 14).  That’s pretty far even now (from Vincennes to Cairo, then to Kaskasia is nearly 300 miles by car).  I may be missing a little river somewhere, though.

According to Mrs. Whiteford (A Genealogy and History of Jacques Timothe Boucher), Timothy was in Kaskaskia by May of 1869 and had been so involved with with his new community that in February of 1770 he was made an “Escuyer”, which she describes as Justice of the Peace.  I did find that Escuyer is pretty much another word for Esquire, and in some cases it did mean Justice of the Peace…or lawyer…or squire.  I’m just going to assume that the record that she is referring to actually says Justice of the Peace on it.  She then goes on to say that she believes that he may have stayed in Kaskaskia for a while, at least until 1777 when he moved to Vincennes, then returned in 1779 to Kaskaskia.

It was in Kaskaskia, Illinois on February 12, 1770 that Timothy and Therese’s second child, first son was born.  He was named Timothy (or Timothé) Felix Demonbreun.  This son was baptized on April 6, 1770 by Father Gibault.  At some point during his life, Timothy Felix dropped the Timothy part of his name and only went by Felix Demonbreun.

And this is where it’s about to get pretty interesting. 

According to the Timothy Demonbreun Heritage Society, in 1771 Timothy’s great-uncle or second cousin Captain (Charles) Louis Boucher de GrandPre, who was at the time the governor of New Orleans (he is also listed as one of the founding fathers of Mississippi), granted him a hunting license for Arkansas Territory (which, from what I understand, did not go so well).  It is believed that this is when he set up shop trading with the Native Americans all along the Mississippi and Cumberland Rivers.  In George R Zepp’s 2009 book Hidden History of Nashville, he states that Timothy first traveled to the Cumberland Valley area now known as Nashville about 1769, and started trading then.  If you recall my earlier post Coming to America, then you will recognize the name of Josephus Conn Guild.  In his book, after describing the arrival of Timothy and his companions to “French Lick”, he goes on to describe their first night and waking up the next morning:

“…they noticed a movement among the bushes at one point.  One of the men lowered his gun, but DeMonbreun ordered him not to shoot, as their object was to trade and not make war.  At length they arrived at a level basin, covered with a thick forest.  Here they found a bubbling spring running into the stream that they had ascended.  They looked around and found many signs of buffalo, deer, and bear.  Using every precaution against a surprise, they encamped for the night, cooked their victuals, and slept upon their arms…the next morning they hung out their trinkets, beads, blankets, and other articles calculated to attract the fancy of the Indians…the effort proved successful and a profitable trade was inaugurated…”

Guild goes on to say that Timothy ended up making frequent trips from Illinois to Nashville and back.  And the Heritage Society does agree that Timothy was spending his winters in Kaskaskia and his summers in prime hunting grounds around the Cumberland Valley. 

It was around 1770 that Therese disappears from all records.  There are several family stories behind her disappearance.  One I read was that Timothy moved her and the children down to French Lick, which would explain the lack of records.  The family lore, however, is that Therese was kidnapped by Indians, either in Tennessee or Illinois, depending on the source.  The details of the legend are cloudy.  Some say she was riding a horse with a child on her lap.  Some say it was during one of the frequent raids on French settlements.  Either way, she is unaccounted for at this time. 

A couple of years after the disappearance of Therese, Timothy’s mother passed away on November 29, 1772 in Boucherville.  Nearly five months after her death Timothy’s father passed away on April 14, 1773 in Boucherville.  Mrs. Whiteford writes that more than likely Timothy AND Therese returned to Boucherville at the death of his parents.  Apparently they may have made more than one trip.  Mrs. Whiteford writes:

“…their son Timothy (Felix) made a statement, March 28th, 1852, which Dr. Felix Robertson wrote down for him, he tells of their return trip from Canada, when attacked by the Indians only a day or two, out from Canada, where in a party of thirty five, only five were spared, that the Indians knew Timothe DeMonbreun from trading with him—and he and his wife and three others were left unharmed, but robbed and left in the wilderness…”

Felix Demonbreun, it seems, did not know the date of this event exactly, but he put it sometime after 1783…which leads me to believe that it is possible that Therese’s disappearance and this story of an Indian attack somehow got mixed up.

I can only assume that it was sometime in the early days of Timothy arriving on the Cumberland River that he set up his first home:  the legendary cave. 

But more on that later.